PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Northern State University Wolves baseball quad earned a split Friday in their doubleheader with the Malone (Ohio) College Pioneers at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational in Phoenix, Ariz.  The Wolves lost the first game by an 11-8 score but won the second by a 9-8 final.

With the split the Wolves move their record to 3-8 overall on the year, and 2-5 in Arizona.

In game one the Wolves jumped out to a 6-1 lead after two innings, but fell down to 6-8 after three more, and had to play catch up for the remaining two innings.  Starting pitcher Chris Ahrenberg took the loss on the hill after going four innings and giving up six earned runs on five hits.  He also issued three walks and struck out one batter.  Reliever Nick Wallentiny then came in and pitched through two innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs, three walks and struck out two batters. 

Offensively, the Wolves were led by Lucas Jung's 3-4 day at the dish that included a 2-RBI single in the sixth inning and a double.  Nathan Zacher went 2-3 with a 2-RBI double and also scored a run.  Aaron Kappes only went 1-3, but reached base three of four times, stole two bases and scored three runs.

Malone College had 11 runs 11 hits, committed five errors and left eight runners on base.  Northern State scored eight runs on 11 hits, committed one error and also left eight runners on base.

Aberdeen, S.D. native James Torigian earned his first win on the mound in the second game, going four innings allowing seven hits and six earned runs while walking three batters and striking out two.  He was then relieved by Trent Bestland who worked through two and two-thirds innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, while striking out four Pioneer batters.  Nathan Zacher then finished out the game, earning a save by getting the one batter he faced to fly out to right field.

Senior Tom Keiser went 3-3 with a double and an RBI single in the third inning to lead the team offensively in the second game.  He also scored two runs, stole a base, and got hit by a pitch.  Andrew Lunsetter went 2-5 with an RBI single in the fifth inning, stole a base and scored two runs.  Austin Simons went 2-4 with an RBI single in the first inning and stole a base, and Adam Brion went 1-4 with two runs scored to finish up the Wolves headliners at the plate.

Malone scored eight runs on 11 hits, committed three errors and left six runners on base.  Northern scored nine runs on 12 hits, committed no errors and left nine runners on base in earning their third win of the season.

They will close out their stay in Arizona tomorrow with a game against Mayville State that is scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. (PST) start.

Northern State University is an NCAA Division II affiliated school participating in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

**GO WOLVES**